Ephedra (plant)

Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in its family, Ephedraceae, and order, Ephedrales. The various species of Ephedra are widespread in many lands, native to southwestern North America, southern Europe, northern Africa, southwest and central Asia, northern China and western South America.

Description

In temperate climates, most Ephedra species grow on shores or in sandy soils with direct sun exposure. Common names in English include joint-pine, jointfir, Mormon-tea or Brigham tea. The Chinese name for Ephedra species is mahuang (simplified Chinese: 麻黄; traditional Chinese: 麻黃; pinyin: máhuáng). Ephedra is a medicinal preparation from the plant Ephedra sinica. Several additional species belonging to the genus Ephedra have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and are a possible candidate for the Soma plant of Indo-Iranian religion.

Uses

Ephedra is used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as má huáng (麻黄). Native Americans and Mormon pioneers drank a tea brewed from other Ephedra species, called "Mormon tea" and "Indian tea". In recent years, dietary supplements containing Ephedra alkaloid have been found to be unsafe, with reports of serious side effects and ephedra-related deaths.

See also

• Ephedra sinica
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Mormon tea
• Indian tea

External links

• Flora of North America: Ephedra
• Flora of China: Ephedra

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  Ephedra viridis close-up
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  Ephedra fragilis
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  Ephedra distachya cones
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  Ephedra ciliata seed
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  Ephedra major shrubs near the gorge
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  Ephedra (plant)